water

New private equity firm Bootstrap Ventures has reported seeing more opportunities among groups challenged by coronavirus but has had to delay the launch of its debut water fund.

Regulatory risk and climatic conditions are the culprits behind a drop in the value of water entitlements in the southern MDB, the first in four years.

Federal report finds water inflows to the MDB have reduced because of climate change, leading to a decline in the reliability of general security water entitlements in some parts of the system.

Partner Jack McCarthy says the company’s deal-by-deal fundraising approach allows it to hold assets for periods longer than a typical farmland fund’s life.

Ken Mehlman says the $1.3bn vehicle will draw on KKR’s previous protein investments in Asia and support a focus on wastewater treatment in North America and Europe.

With drought leading to record-high water prices in south-east Australia last year, investors have started to look north in search of returns – but there are huge barriers to overcome. Daniel Kemp investigates what efforts are being made to unlock the opportunities.

Curtis Buono and Jeremy Darner said they expect to focus largely on helping institutional investors deploy funds in California farmland markets increasingly shaped by the SGMA.

The fund will focus on deals averaging $20m to create a portfolio of row and permanent crops with its first four investments targeting permanent cropland in California.

Credit Suisse has highlighted the 'perfect margin squeeze' for agribusinesses and primary producers presented by water scarcity but efficiency innovation continues to present investment opportunities.

Investor submissions argue that current water market is working as intended, but say that more transparency and certainty of information are needed.